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Wednesday, November 11 - 2009

Intensive campaigns to collar illegal software vendors in Sharjah

  • United Arab Emirates: Monday, June 25 - 2007 at 11:40
  • PRESS RELEASE

Joint anti-piracy entrapment operations have resulted in the arrest of three illegal traders and confiscation of various counterfeit items during separate raids launched earlier this month in Sharjah.

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The raids were initiated by Microsoft, as a Business Software Alliance (BSA) member.

A combined team of anti-piracy operatives and UAE authorities seized nearly 100 assorted pirated CDs and three personal computers installed with illegally downloaded software during the surprise operations.

Juma Al Leem, Director of Censorship Department, Dubai Government, said, "The only way to deter the proliferation of these unlawful elements is through a compelling show of force. Our efforts are also a way of encouraging consumers to deal only with resellers offering genuine software as doing otherwise would be tantamount to supporting these criminals. By keeping the industry free of illegal software distribution, we are encouraging more foreign investments and consequently generating new wealth for the economy."

Three Indian nationals working at the reseller outlets were immediately apprehended upon confirmation that the items sold were counterfeit. The suspects are now facing criminal prosecution.

BSA - the international association established by the software industry to promote a safe and legal digital world - has also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Economy, which is considered to be the first agreement of its kind in an economy in the region.

Jawad Al Redha, Co-Chairman, Business Software Alliance, Middle East said:

"It is important that we sustain our tactical initiatives to send a strong message to cyber crime syndicates that we will find and remove them. Our collaborative efforts with local authorities and private organizations have yielded excellent results and have even encouraged other business establishments to join our campaign by providing valuable information about illegal traders in their area."
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Notes and media contacts

About BSA:

The Business Software Alliance is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's commercial software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace BSA helps governments and consumers understand how software strengthens the economy, worker productivity and global development and how its further expansion hinges on the successful fight against software piracy and Internet theft. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce.

BSA members include: 4D, Adobe, Agfa-Monotype, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, BVRP Software, Centennial, Cisco Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Grupo SP, Entrust, HiT Internet Technologies, HP, IBM, iInventory, Intel, Intergraph, Internet Security Systems, Intuit, LMS International, Macromedia, Magix, Mamut, McAfee, Microsoft, Microstar, Nemetschek, O&O Software, OWG, Panda Software, Realviz, RSA Security, SIA, SolidWorks, Staff & Line, Sybase, Symantec, TeamSystem, Trend Micro, UGS PLM Solutions, VERITAS Software, Visma, WRQ.

BSA Anti-Piracy Hotlines
Kuwait Hotline: 2438033
UAE Hotline: 800 4828
Other countries: (9714) 332 2307

Or contact:
Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications
PO Box 23345, Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 3988901
Fax: +971 4 3988941
Website: www.orientplanet.com

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